We can look back and remember. We know things that have happened. We can see to the horizon but no farther than our eye will see. We can’t see into the future. We might worry about what’s ahead tomorrow or next year. Most of what we “predict” won’t come true. All a weather forecaster does is predict the weather. If it’s right good; if not you go on. No big deal. Not knowing what’s coming in life is scary but what we can’t see is great. I can’t look to the northeast and see Washington D.C. from here but I know it’s there. I’ve been there but even if you haven’t you have been told. You’ve seen pictures and movies.
What’s ahead for the Christian is a place prepared but not by my hands. I’ve not built my place in heaven—Jesus is doing it. All I can do is make myself ready and prepare my soul for what Jesus has prepared.
John 14: 1Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. 2 In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also. 4 And whither I go ye know, and the way ye know. 5 Thomas saith unto him, Lord, we know not whither thou goest; and how can we know the way? 6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
We’ve grown up with this teaching but consider it again. Don’t get used to the truth about heaven. There is an order to it and what Jesus has prepared. Focus on it every day. The Bible says to set our affections on things in heaven not on this earth. It should guide our life giving us incentive to real direction for our life. Jesus didn’t say we make our own way. He didn’t say we could go just any way we wanted or decided. Many believe in heaven but not hell. They think all people go to heaven no matter what. Jesus didn’t say that. He said I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
It is a difficult time for those left behind with all the ones who have died lately. How do you get through it? The Lord said he would do it with us and for us. He truly is the way. We miss our loved ones but we can go on because Jesus didn’t leave us alone to face tomorrow. He is the way we’ll make it.
Jesus told the disciples about what is prepared for those who trust him as Savior. He described how and who goes there. He also gave us every day advice: let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. We can believe the lies of the devil and make a shipwreck of our life or do the simple thing and use our measure of faith to depend on the Lord. You can expand your faith just like a waistline or you can let it shrink. People stop believing or corrupt Christianity. Jesus is still just as much the Son of God and our Savior in the low times of life as he is in the high times. If you believe God you can believe Jesus.
Things might get hard physically at times. Sometimes we feel like we can’t put words into prayer. That’s where faith comes in. We can still believe God if we can’t talk or hear. Let’s make it to heaven. The most foolish thing we can do is throw away the life God has given us. Jesus died and rose again to be a living Lord. Don’t turn your back on the only hope of going to heaven. It’s foolish to disregard your soul. If you miss heaven you will go to another prepared place: hell. It will be everlasting punishment. At the judgment Jesus will say to those on his left hand depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels. That place is also prepared and the lost will go there. None of us can work or buy our way to heaven. There is one door: Jesus. Trying to go any other way is the same as being a thief and robber—that’s what Jesus said. A person who goes to hell does so with heaven’s door open to them.
Jesus said in my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. He wasn’t lying to us. As sure as he’s gone away to prepare that place he will come again. He said and if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also. I don’t know what kind of place we’ll have but it’s a home better than we now have. We’ll have a place with the Lord and leave all this ignorant stuff of the world behind. I want to see it!
If you’re not right with the Lord, get right. Get closer to the Lord. We’re close to going. Jesus is near. Make your election of God sure so that you’ll end up in the place God has prepared for the believer.
Adwolfe Freewill Baptist Church 